Oakland, CA (June 28th, 2026): San Francisco Unicorns produced a stunning batting performance to defeat Washington Freedom by eight wickets in the final match of the Oakland leg of the 2026 Major League Cricket season, chasing down 191 in just 15.1 overs. Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Finn Allen dismantled the Freedom bowling attack with one of the most explosive opening partnerships in MLC history before Matthew Short and Aaron Hardie completed the chase with 29 balls to spare.

Washington Freedom posted a competitive 190/4 after choosing to bat first, built around a superb unbeaten 83 from Andries Gous. The wicketkeeper-batter anchored the innings with a 50-ball knock that featured seven sixes after Freedom suffered an early setback when Haris Rauf bowled Steven Smith for just three.
The opening pair of Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Finn Allen added 102 runs in just 5.4 overs to set up the San Francisco Unicorns' victory. Photo by Ron Gaunt / Sportzpics for MLC

Mitchell Owen counterattacked in trademark fashion, blasting three fours and three sixes in a rapid 39 off 20 balls before falling to Ghulam Mudassar. Gous then stitched together valuable partnerships through the middle overs, while Nikhil Chaudhary added a brisk 32 from 19 deliveries to keep the scoreboard ticking. Gous remained unbeaten to guide Freedom to a challenging total.

Mudassar was the standout Unicorns bowler with an economical 1/29 from four overs, while Matthew Short returned figures of 1/12 and Brody Couch claimed 1/28.

The chase, however, belonged entirely to Pretorius and Allen.

Pretorius announced his intentions immediately by smashing three sixes in the opening over before racing to a 16-ball half-century, equalling Nicholas Pooran's record for the fastest fifty in Major League Cricket. He hammered 66 off just 26 balls in a breathtaking display of power hitting.


Allen matched him stroke for stroke, smashing 45 from only 18 deliveries, including four fours and four sixes. The opening pair added 102 runs in just 5.4 overs, effectively deciding the contest before the end of the powerplay and leaving the Freedom bowlers with little room for recovery.

Allen was the first to depart after being caught by Owen off Marco Jansen, while Pretorius fell two overs later after another dazzling innings. By then, the Unicorns required only 69 runs from 72 balls with eight wickets in hand.

Short and Hardie ensured there were no late hiccups. Short finished unbeaten on 34, while Hardie struck an aggressive 42 not out off 22 balls, including six boundaries, as the Unicorns sealed victory with nearly five overs remaining.

The emphatic win capped a dominant Oakland leg for San Francisco and highlighted the firepower in their batting lineup, with Pretorius and Allen's explosive opening stand proving far too much for Washington Freedom to overcome.

Brief Scores: Washington Freedom 190/4 (20 overs) – Andries Gous 83*, Mitchell Owen 39; Ghulam Mudassar 1/29. San Francisco Unicorns 193/2 (15.1 overs) – Lhuan-dre Pretorius 66, Finn Allen 45, Aaron Hardie 42*; Nikhil Chaudhary 1/29. San Francisco Unicorns won by eight wickets.